Test yourself — see how much you know about nutrition.1. Which is the healthiest soda?

A. Ginger Ale

B. Seltzer

C. Diet Pepsi

D. Cola

Answer: B. Seltzer. It has zero calories, and Canada Dry Naturally Flavored Lemon-Lime Twist Sparkling Seltzer Water is a pretty amazing drink with natural flavoring. Ginger Ale has a bit of health halo. While ginger has health benefits, the soft drink has 140 calories per 12 ounces, similar to regular cola. Diet soda is not getting very good press based on recent research.

2. It's Cinco de Mayo, and you're celebrating with a little Mexican food. After scanning the menu for a few minutes, you confidently choose which of the following options?

A. Chimichanga

B. Taco salad

C. Nachos Grande

D. Sizzling fajitas

Answer: D. Fajitas are the only option that is not fried or covered with mounds of cheese. However, the portions do tend to be large, so you may want to share this dish with a dinner companion. Fajitas are not deep fried, but close. Still, you can control the fat content by asking the server to have the chef use very little oil and avoid the “sizzle.” Also, be wary of what comes with the fajitas — sour cream, guacamole and tortilla shells.

What's wrong with the other choices?

A. Chimichangas are fried burritos, which is why this choice is not good.

B. Were you fooled by the word “salad”? The shell the salad comes in contains about 1,000 calories — that's before adding all the calories in the ground beef, olives, cheese, sour cream and guacamole.

C. Cheese, cheese and more cheese.

Note: To keep your calories low when ordering Mexican:

•Ask for high-fat condiments such as sour cream and guacamole to be served on the side, and use them sparingly.

•Ask for dishes to be made with half the cheese.

•Skip the refried beans — they're usually cooked with lard or bacon.

•Limit or skip the chips and salsa on the table.

3. You're off to Little Italy with a group of friends. Which menu item is the lowest-calorie option?

A. Fettuccini Alfredo

B. Lasagna

C. Linguini with red clam sauce

D. Eggplant Parmigiana

Answer: C. Linguini with red clam sauce.

This is one of the lower-calorie choices available at an Italian restaurant. Red clam sauce contains much less fat and oil than white clam sauce.

A. Alfredo sauce is made with cheese and butter.

B. Lasagna is typically made with lots of high-fat meat and cheese. Sorry to be a spoilsport, but vegetarian lasagnas are high in fat, too (because of the cheese and cream sauce that are usually used).

D. Did the eggplant throw you off? Grilled eggplant is a delicious and nutritious choice. Eggplant Parmigiana is breaded, deep-fried and covered with cheese — big difference!

4. Which food has the most sodium?

A. Salt, table (1 teaspoon)

B. Sauerkraut (1 cup)

C. Miso soup (1 cup)

D. McDonald's Quarter Pounder

E. Del Monte Fresh Cut French Style Green Beans ( 1/2 cup)

F. Progresso Chicken & Homestyle Noodle Soup ( 1/2 can)

Answer: C. Miso soup has the most, with 2,563 mg of sodium.

A. A teaspoon of table salt is the second highest with 2,325 mg.

B. Sauerkraut has 1,560 mg.

D. McDonald's Quarter Pounder is fourth with 730 mg.

E. Canned fresh cut green beans are 390 for a 1/2 cup.

F. Progresso soup is 920 mg per serving. While the calories are relatively low at 110 per cup, the sodium is what you have to watch out for.

Note: Sodium has been linked to an increase in blood pressure, which increases the risk for stroke, aneurysm, heart failure and kidney damage. And one-third of all Americans have high blood pressure. U.S. dietary guidelines suggest we consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day, while the Institute of Medicine recommends as little as 1,500 mg per day — the equivalent of 2/3 teaspoon of table salt!

5. Which drink has the most sodium?

A. Tomato Juice (8 ounces)

B. Chocolate McCafé Shake (16 ounces)

C. Diet Snapple (12 ounces)

D. Gatorade G-Series Lemon-Lime Sports Drink

Answer: A. The tomato juice. Although 8 ounces have only 50 calories, they have 680 mg sodium. Try V8 Low Sodium Vegetable Juice, a better choice at 140 mg sodium and still only 50 calories.

Note: Not only does sodium have the issues mentioned above, a high-salt diet can also increase fluid retention and bloating. Go easy on processed meats, fast foods, canned foods and chips. To add flavor, try salt-free herbs and spices such garlic, pepper, lemon, basil, cumin, curry, paprika and others, rather than reaching for the salt.

6. It's lunchtime at your favorite deli. What kind of sandwich won't cause you to pack on the pounds?

A. Tuna salad sandwich on 100 percent whole-wheat bread

B. Breaded and fried chicken cutlet on a roll

C. Bologna with lettuce and tomato on white bread

D. Ham and cheese with lettuce and tomato on whole-wheat bread

Answer: D. Ham and cheese with lettuce and tomato on whole wheat. What? Ham and cheese? That's right. Ham is surprisingly lean at 55 calories per ounce (about one slice) — the same as roast beef and not much more than turkey. However, delis tend to be a little too generous with the meat and cheese, so ask them to not stack it too thick and request low-fat cheese if available. Also, make sure the bread is 100 percent whole grain — many whole-grain breads are not really “whole” grains.

Note: At the deli, opt for lean cold cuts such as roast beef, turkey or ham, and go easy on the cheese and mayo (try mustard instead).

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